McMullan booed for stance on taxpayer funded organizations

Catherine Dominguez

Published 4:33 pm, Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Image 1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

McMullan

McMullan

McMullan booed for stance on taxpayer funded organizations

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

A packed house of business leaders booed during The Woodlands Township board meeting last week when director John McMullan opined that The Woodlands Economic Development Partnership should not take political positions, especially because it is funded in part by taxpayer dollars.

The issue came to light during the board’s July 21 meeting when Gil Staley, CEO of the EDP, along with representatives from other community organizations, requested annual funding from the township.

When Staley requested $175,000, McMullan asked whether the EDP supported the failed $350 million road bond in May 2015. Staley said no. However, the EDP board unanimously approved a resolution March 26, 2015, in support of the bond, which included the extension of Woodlands Parkway from FM 2978 to Texas 249.

Staley provided that information to the township following the meeting, noting he was mistaken when speaking to the board.

McMullan, who has been vocal in his opposition to the Woodlands Parkway extension, placed the item back on the agenda for July 28, noting the discussion on the topic was “shut off” at the board’s meeting July 21. Board member Mike Bass ended the lengthy discussion when McMullan and Staley started to debate the residents’ position on the Parkway extension.

During that meeting, McMullan said 85 percent of residents were against the Woodlands Parkway extension. However, Staley said it was actually 85 percent of those who voted in the May 2015 election, which was actually only about 10 percent of the voting population.

“As we were discussing this last week, this board wrongly shut off our discussion of this. … It is not the first time this board has had a problem with speech,” he said. “So I wanted to finish that conversation from last week because we weren’t able to.

“If you are going to use our tax dollars, you should not politic against The Woodlands. My opinion is when the EDP took a position on the May road bond with the Woodlands Parkway extension - remember, (the bond) asked our resident to spend millions of their tax dollars to make traffic worse on the Woodlands Parkway all while bankrolling the politically well connected developers - that was a mistake.”

Board member Ann Snyder supported the EDP, saying the organization is responsible for many businesses, including large companies that call The Woodlands their headquarters.

But when McMullan firmly said organizations should not politic against the residents, the room erupted in boos a second time.

“We absolutely had no intent to go against the will of this board, I assure you of that,” Staley said. “We are supportive of you. You represent the residents and the businesses.”

Staley said the EDP looks at all issues that affect economic development in the community. He said the purpose of the resolution was to move forward with mobility in the community, which, he said, is the No. 1 issues employers face.

“That was our view when going to our board and asking for support,” said Staley, noting at that time the township had not taken a position on the May bond.

Board member Jeff Long said it would be “setting the bar too high” to always consider an organization’s position. He added that the discussion of funding the EDP needs to be addressed during budget hearings.

“Lots and lots of people supported the road bond both times and many we do business with,” said Long, adding that if the board is going to deny funding for the EDP or require the EDP not to take a political position against the township, then the staff needs to provide a list of everyone the township does business with that supported the bond so they could be treated “equally.”

McMullan said he wants to know an organization’s position on political topics before he votes on funding to ensure that taxpayer dollars aren’t being used for issues that he believes are against the will of the residents.

After the meeting, McMullan said is “disappointing to see EDP supporters boo the proposition that the business community should not use taxpayer dollars to campaign against our residents’ interests.”

The board will discuss funding for the EDP, South County YMCA, Interfaith of The Woodlands, Senior Rides and Meals on Wheels during its budget workshops beginning at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 15.